Jerry Lawler Looks Back On Infamous WWE WrestleMania Match With Michael Cole Script for WWE Vault Breakdown (Premium Tier-1 Wrestling Channel)
Host (energetic, knowledgeable delivery – think veteran wrestling journalist meets high-production analyst): “What’s up, Vault Squad? Welcome back to WWE Vault Breakdown, where we go deep on the moments, matches, and stories that defined sports entertainment for serious fans and collectors who live this business.
Fifteen years later, one of the most polarizing matches in WrestleMania history still gets talked about. Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler stepping inside the squared circle for his only WrestleMania match against broadcast colleague Michael Cole at WrestleMania XXVII.
It was supposed to be a crowning moment for the King… but it turned into something else entirely. Now, Lawler is looking back – and his honest reflections are gold. Let’s break it all down.”
The Build: Cole as Nuclear Heel
Michael Cole had perfected the smarmy, arrogant heel commentator role. He cost Lawler a WWE Title shot against The Miz, mocked The King’s late mother in one of the most uncomfortable promos ever, and aligned with Jack Swagger.
The heat was real. Fans wanted to see Lawler shut Cole’s mouth at the biggest show of the year in Atlanta with over 70,000 in attendance. Stone Cold Steve Austin as special guest referee? It felt like a recipe for a feel-good payoff.
What Actually Happened in the Ring
- Nearly 14 minutes of action (way too long for the participants).
- Lawler dominated most of it, including the memorable spot tossing Cole into his own “Cole Mine” announce table setup.
- Swagger threw in the towel. Austin Stunnered Swagger.
- Lawler locked in the ankle lock. Cole tapped. Hand raised. Beers with Austin. Crowd popping.
Then… the Anonymous Raw GM (yes, that era) reversed the decision. Cole “won” by DQ due to Austin’s involvement.
The crowd was deflated. What should’ve been a triumphant King moment got dragged out for another month-plus.
Jerry Lawler’s Honest Reflections (2026)
In a recent interview on Notsam Wrestling, The King opened up:
“We got to work out one time before we went in the ring. I busted his lip… He said ‘I don’t think I can do this.’ I said ‘Believe me, you’ll make it.’”
On the match length and unused talent: “We had so much more time than we needed. We had two guys that could be put in the match – Stone Cold was the referee at the height of his popularity, they had Swagger – and they did nothing. I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Why aren’t you guys doing something?’”
Lawler also revealed he had no idea the finish was getting reversed. He celebrated, thought it was done right… then the GM email hit.
Even Vince McMahon reportedly called elements of it one of the worst things he’d seen in decades.
Why It’s Remembered as Infamous
- A non-wrestler in Cole vs. a 61-year-old legend in Lawler.
- Overbooked with a controversial non-finish.
- It’s frequently labeled among the worst WrestleMania matches ever – yet the build generated real heat.
Cole played his role perfectly as a heat magnet. Lawler gave it everything. But execution and booking didn’t match the moment.
The King eventually got revenge in a Kiss My Foot match at Over the Limit, forcing Cole to literally kiss his foot. Poetic, gross justice.
Final Thoughts & Legacy
Jerry Lawler’s first (and only) WrestleMania match will forever be a wild footnote. It showed how personal the broadcast table could feel, gave Cole legendary heel cred, and reminded everyone why The King is still beloved decades later.
Lawler took it like a pro – as always.
What do you think, squad? Was this the absolute worst Mania match, or does the heat from the build redeem it? Should WWE have just given Lawler the clean win and sent the crowd home happy? Drop your takes in the comments – especially if you watched it live in 2011.
If you love deep dives on wrestling’s wild history, smash that like button, subscribe, and hit the bell. Check the description for the full Notsam Wrestling interview link, our WrestleMania XXVII full review, and more King Lawler content.
Stay elite. Stay wrestling. I’ll see you in the next breakdown.